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Itineraries |
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 Travel
Day
1: Auckland to Wellington
Depart: 7.45am - Arrive: 6.25pm
This morning you board the Northern Explorer train at Auckland and head
south passing through the farming landscape of the Waikato region to
the rugged bush country ascending to the Volcanic Plateau via the
famous Raurimu Spiral, passing the the Volcano's of Mt Ngauruhoe and
Mt Tongariro for a stop at Tongariro National Park.
From Tongariro National Park you
pass Mt Ruapehu the home of the North Island skifields of Whakapapa
and Turoa, the ski town of Ohakune before descending through stunning river gorges to
the rolling farming landscape of the Palmerston North region to
Wellington - the Harbour Capital for
1 or more nights stay in New
Zealand's capital city.
This service operates Monday, Thursday and
Saturday only.
Travel Day 2: Wellington to Christchurch
Depart: 9.00am - Arrive 6.45pm
From Wellington you board an Interislander ferry for a daytime
sailing from Wellington, with it's picturesque harbour, crossing
Cook Strait before entering the magnificent Marlborough Sounds. The
3 hour (92 kilometers) ferry journey is aboard the ferry “Kaitaki',
a modern ship with a range of on board facilities from eateries, a
shop, two movie theatres, a games arcade, a large bar with live
entertainment, numerous passenger lounges, 3 open air decks and a
friendly on board crew to assist you. Your Interislander journey
ends at Picton located in a sheltered marine harbour where you will
have time to experience this charming small town. From Picton you
board the Coastal Pacific train travelling South along the eastern coast
of the South Island, passing through the local Marlborough
vineyards, Lake Grassmere Salt Ponds and stopping at Kaikoura -
famous for viewing whales and dolphins. From Kaikoura you travel
south, following stunning coastline to the northern Canterbury Plains
and onto
the garden city of
Christchurch for 1 or more
nights stay.
This service operates daily between 23 September 2016 to 30 April 2017 only
Travel Day 3: Christchurch to Greymouth Day Excursion
Depart: 8.15am - Return: 6.05pm
Today travel between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of
New Zealand to the other and return. From your carriage you'll see
the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the
spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River, as
you ascend through the Southern Alps to the alpine village of
Arthurs Pass. From Arthurs you descending through the Otira Tunnel
to the lush beech rain forests to the West Coast to Greymouth. After
a hour stopover in Greymouth, The TranzAlpine train departs
Greymouth heading east heading east to the Southern Alps ascending
up through the Otira Tunnel to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass
slowly descending through river valleys of the Waimakariri River, crossing the Canterbury Plains to
Christchurch for 1 or more
nights stay.
Or
Christchurch to Greymouth
Depart: 8.15am - Arrive: 12.45pm
Today travel between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of
New Zealand to the other and return. From your carriage you'll see
the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the
spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River, as
you ascend through the Southern Alps to the alpine village of
Arthurs Pass. From Arthurs you descending through the Otira Tunnel
to the lush beech rain forests to the West Coast to
Greymouth. – a
great base for visits to
Punakaiki and the always popular glaciers. From
Greymouth you can head south to the the Glaciers for 1 or 2 night
stopover in the townships of
Franz Josef or
Fox Glacier and onto
Wanaka and
Queenstown or north to
Westport through the Buller Gorge
to
Nelson.
These services operate daily.
Train services does not operate on Christmas Day - 25 December.
This travel journey would suit a
3 Day Freedom Rail Pass
Please note - You must purchase a scenic train and ferry pass before you can make
any travel travel sector reservations/s.
You can add to your scenic train
and ferry pass travel, a
35 Hour 'Hop On/Hop Off' bus/ferry pass for travel to or from Greymouth to Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te
Anau, Invercargill and Christchurch or a
25 Hour 'Hop On/Hop Off' bus/ferry pass for travel from Auckland to Paihia in the beautiful Bay of Islands
including a the 'Hole in the Rock/Dolphin Viewing' cruise, Waitomo
Caves (guided tour of the glow worm caves is additional) and the
thermal wonderland of Rotorua or alternatively purchase
'Point to Point'
coach tickets, for other onward travel from Greymouth, Christchurch, Wellington,
Palmerston North, Hamilton, Rotorua or Auckland
to other scenic destinations within New Zealand.
There are a range of optional independent touring travel packages
from
Christchurch to Queenstown to Christchurch
- ranging from 3 days to 7 days, if you wish to continue
your journey to Queenstown via the West coast of the South Island or
via Dunedin. |
